Sausage-linking machine



Sept. 2.5,'1934. T, E KELLY f 1,974,615

' SAUSAGE LINKING MACHINE Filed March 7. 1952 2 sheets-sheet 1 @affix-@ T. E. KELLY SAUSAGE LINKING MACHINE Sept. 25, 1934.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 7. 1952 MMYMM Patented Sept. 25, 1934 STATEJS OFFICE fefglrsNT "This `winvelition relatesf to sausage linking f 2maehines. i

iltf'isthe objectofthe'finventionlto provide `a novel and improvedma'chine which can besuciz 'cesstlly usedfeor' linking sausages without dangerf of# ilrea'kage'r 'oft-'tha delicate sausage casings, adwhich machinerie-lof cheaplandsimple constructioni andfcan M-bemaintained iin clean and sainfitaryacondition with case.

.the motor not f-beingfsectioned;

if-igrA is a'vertioa'1-=section taken jsubstantially on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3, as indioatedwbyJthe-arrows;-severa1` linked sausages being lshown-in plaoeasfthey willV` appear 'af-tei" the linking oper- 30 ation is complete'disnd before Av'thesausages `are withdrawn; from-` the machine;

'\.Fig.`f^"5--isa-viewtaken 'chieiiyinfront end elevatbn of-v the-machine-'certain :ofj the parts 'being shownl inssection- M'.*md-certai-n ofl the` parts' being ,73511, showng* in full lines` in oneV positionand-in dotted" linesiinfasecondposition;and 1 ""iF`g.f-6f`isa viewon'anenlarged scale showing a portion "ofi thebe'lt'offthe rnachine; the view'being t'a'keniinfside'elevationl 110` *"Iihemachine; in generalycomprises a-xed-sectonA-fand -a-*removable-` sectionL Bv adapted to'- `be engaged'fwithf the'l 'diced-section'. i LFixed sectionI A includes-enbase casting 'l shaped Ltor forni a sub#4 stntil'ly- Ehorizcrital 's base g =plate` *7a having 1 ing the upper *edge A`fthecurved plate MJ7c andI side weils 'Ierunningbetweenthe rear-portion `of i; base-plate 'Ta and* they side edges of platform i-Yd and joiningthe side edgesof the curved Aplate I7c. Resilient` "cushioning pads "8"-are secured y `to the lower :surface ofibase piateflaflto support section Arasona,listssnpporting` surface. A W."Mrmnt'ed lowplatform' 7d Aisfan electricernotcr 9having a motor shaft `l9avpr0jectingfrom the leftside of casting 'ZWh-en the machine is viewed as shown in? Figs/@land 5. The projecting end Ofwmotorishaft 9a carries asprocket 10 which is disposed @within the: -upper end of a housing 1`1` secured to afprojection .onthe-left side of 'the basefplate 7a. f Journaled within housing 11 adjacent'the lower portion thereof is a stubishaft 12 `which carries `ahalfY clutch member 13 pro-l jectinginwardly from therightside 4of housing 11. This halfclutch member 13 projects `inwardly' beyond' the end'of stub shaft 12 and it is aper-l tured inflinewith the-shaft 12 through its inner portion. Stub shaft l'12 carries a sprocket 14 Within housingll and an endless chain 15, preferably of thesilent type, is disposed. within housing 11 andiruns over the two sprockets 10` and 14. A pin receiving opening '1f is'provided inf the Tight sidee of casting '7 adjacent the Apoint where the p1atfor1n'7d joins the curved plate' 7c,` While a 4similar" `pin receiving opening '7g-is provided the right side of rib "7b, adjacent the forward edge of the casting. An upturned 41ug'7h is formed at the left side of the casting 7 adjacent the forward edge thereof and `apin receiving opening 7iis provided ini this lug 7h. A springl isl secured to the right side-7e of casting 'l andthis spring has an outwardlyjcurved free-endrwhich sube stantially overlies pin opening 7f,in'outwardly disposed relationtherefrom. "The removable section BA-includes a` pair. of side frames 17 and -18 respectively secured t0- geth'erL in spaced parallel relation as by means lof' spacing'rods 23 and guide rods 19 mounted in the sideframes. Thegguide rods 19 project outward# lybeyond the'outer sides of therespectiveside frames 17 and 18 fora purpose presently to -appear, and these guide rods are disposed in spaced, horizontal, parallel relation. The side frames 17 and 18. have thickened forward ends within which longitudinal. slots 20 are, formed lProjecting downwardly from theV forward end of side frame llis. awshort leg 17a." carrying ,an i outwardly .projecting'pin 21 adapted to -be receivedwithin the pinsopening 7iwlien. the removable section B is assembled in placeon the fixed section A.' .The forward thickened-v end-i-of side frame 18 i has, a longerdownwardlyzextending-leg 18a carryingsan inwardly -projectingvpin 22 adapted to bereceived; withinapinopenings 7g when the two sections AA and'B are-)assembled together. Side frame 18 projects rearwardly beyond.; side. frame 17 and at its-:rear V,end .side `frame 18 `carries fanainwardly projecting pin 124 :adapted to bel'received within,

the pin opening 7j when the two sections A and B are assembled together.

The two side frames 17 and 18 have upwardly and forwardly projecting arms 17D and 18h respectively and these arms are oppositely disposed and run forwardly above the lower portions of the side frames from adjacent the rear ends of the side frames. A roller shaft 25 upon which a forward roller 26 is journaled, extends through the slots 20 at the forward ends of the two side frames 17 and 18 and secured to this shaft 25 are a pair of forwardly projecting studs 27 which project forwardly from the slots 2() through the forward ends of the respective side frames 17 and 18 and carry nuts 28 on screw threaded forward portions thereof. Small coiled springs 29 surround the studs 27 forwardly of the side frames and have bearing against the forward ends of the side frames and the nuts 28. A cross shaft 30 is journaled in the side frame 17 adjacent its rear end and is also journaled in side frame 18 in silghtly forwardly spaced relation from its rear end. This shaft projects beyond the left side of side frame 17 and carries adjacent its ends a half clutch member 31. The extreme left end of shaft 30 is adapted to be received within the opening in half clutch member 13 and half clutch member 31 is adapted to engage with half clutch member 13 when the two sections A and B are in assembled relation. Keyed or otherwise secured to shaft 30 intermediate the two side frames is a large rear roller 32 of approximately twice the diameter of forward roller 26. The axis about which roller 32 may rotate is disposed at approximately the same level as the upper surface of roller 26. An upper roller 33 is journaled on a cross shaft 34 extending between and mounted in the forward ends of arms 17D and 18h of the side frames. This upper roller 33 is preferably of slightly greater diameter than roller 26 and the axis of rotation for the roller 33 is spaced considerably above the axis of rotation for the roller 32. An intermediate roller 35 of quite small diameter is journaled between the side frames on a cross shaft 36 extending between and mounted in the arms 17h and 18h of the side frames approximately midway between the two roller shafts 30 and 34. The axis of rotation of roller 35 is slightly above the axis of rotation of the roller 32, and the lower surface of the roller 35 is approximately level with the upper surface of forward roller 26. A pair of upwardly and forwardly extending arms 37 interconnected by cross bar 38 and a cross bar 39 are pivotally mounted at their lower vrear ends on roller shaft 36 outwardly from the side frames 17 and 18 and as this roller shaft 36 is provided with a head at its right end and a screw threaded nut 40 at its left end, the arms 37 can be adjusted and locked in a desired tilted position relative to the side frames by merely tightening the nut 40. The forward ends of arms 37 carry a roller shaft 41 upon which a top roller 42 isV journaled and, of course, this top roller can be adjusted to different levels by swinging .L movement of the arms 37.

An endless flexible belt 43 preferably corrugated on its outer surface and composed from some suitable material such as corded rubber, is trained over the various rollers 26, 32, 42, 33 and 35, to assume the position best illustrated in Fig.

` er 33 to top roller 42. This belt will be driven in the direction as indicated by the arrows Fig. 3, and the horizontal run C which faces the inclined run D will move rearwardly as shown, while the inclined run D will move forwardly and upwardly in a direction generally opposite to the run C.

A pair of oppositely disposed runways 44 and 45 respectively, have horizontally spaced hubs through which the projecting portions of the guide rods 19 at the left vside of the machine and the outwardly projecting portions of the" guide rods at the right side of the machine extend to permit lateral adjustment of the runways 44 and 45 respectively. The runways are adapted to be clamped in adjusted position to the guide rods 19 as by meansof set screws 46. The runways 44 and 45 are inclined preferably inwardly toward their upper edges from their lower edges as best shown in Figs. 4 and 5 and the upper edges of the runways are quite narrow and lie in a plane inclined slightly to the horizontal downwardly from the forward ends of the runways tothe rear ends thereof. Below the roller shaft 34, upwardly projecting stop lugs 44a and- 45a are formed on the upper edges of the runways.

To assemble the movable section B in place on the fixed section A, the movable section will be shifted laterally to the left from a position to the right of section A as indicated in dottedlines Fig. 5 to the position shown in full lines Fig. 5. Short leg 17a will be carried against lug 7h and pin 21 will be received within pin open-l ing 7i. Longer leg 18aJ will be carried against the right sidel of rib 7b and pin 22 will be ref ceived within pin opening 7g. The rear end of side frame 18 will be carried against the right side 7e and pin V24 will be received within pin opening 7i. Spring 16 will yield to allow the movement of the rear end of side frame v18 to this position whereupon the spring will snap to the position shown in Fig. 1, thereby retaining the rear end of side frame 18 against the right side 7e. The left end of shaft 30 will be received within the opening of half clutch member 13 and half clutch member 31 will beengaged with half clutch member 13 to cause rotation of shaft 30 and roller 32 mounted thereon as shaft 12 is rotated. f

lBefore using the machine for linking sausages,

of the runways 44 and 45, so that the unlinked 1 filled casing projects transversely across the runways, with one end of the filled casing adjacent one of the runways, as the left runway 44. The casing will then be pinchedfrom its upper side downwardly against the upper edges of the runways 44 and 45. vPrior to this time, the motor 9 will, of course, be set in operation, therebyv causing the belt 43 to move` in the direction as indicated bythe arrows Fig. 3. After the filled sausage casing has been pinched as described,V the filled casing will be slid rearwardly from the forward ends of therunways 44 and 45 to the position illustrated `by the dotted lines in Fig.v

3, the lled casing being designated by the letter S, Ifhe upper edges of the runways 44 and-45 extendlat their `foryvard ends slightly-above the levelfiof thehorizontal run C of belt 43, vwhile adjacentftheir rear ends the `upperedges vof the runways lie approximately i level with the horizontal run .Ccfthebelt Thenlled casing S upon Ybeing carried .tol the.`position shown in Fig. 3,.v also '1 shown' in full^ lines Fig. 4, .will at `its upper 'portion contact the inclined run Dofwbeltz43 andwill at its lower4 portion contact the 'horizontal runY C Yof the belt. As the two runs C and Defv the belt are movingsinopposite directions, the portion ofthe filled sausage casing .between the two' runways 44 andf45, will be given `a quick rotation 4by the runs C and D of the belt to form twists T `in. the sausage `casing-'to produce. a sausage link.-After1the1twists T have beenvmade, the sausage link will be slid forwardly on the runways, whereuponrthellled sausage casing S will be moved laterally tothe left of'thernachine a distance approximating the' length of Atwo links. l 'The `lled `casing will then be again laid on thev runways 44 and 45 and the operation Vwill. be repeated. "Inrpracticeythe linking ope-ration will be very quickly accomplished. The portion of the filled casing between the `two runways: 44 and 45 will be rapidly slid rearwardly on .i the :runways to contact the runs Gand D of the belt for justan. instant, whereupon the completed link will "be drawn forwardly. on `the runways; It' will 4loe 'seen' that only alternate longitudinal. portions-of: the kfilled casing S will bei operated' upon. by the machine dueto the fact that two twists` Tere .simultaneously made during asingle operation of the :i machine. l

. The twists T `that aremade in the .filledV sausage casing Sby useoithemachine, are very short and the. sausages that tare formedvwill be quitefbluntended. As a result, sausage casings may be more completely filled f'with sausage meatfthan is the 'usual case `whenwother types of linking machines'are used `and.therepwill be a considerable saving in. the. quantitysof casings used.- .Thesecasings are veryexpensiveand the V: -saving of the quantity of casings used by a sausage maker aids materially vin 'reducing the expense of manufacture oflinked'sausages.

Much difficulty has been heretofore experienced inproducing `linked sausages, dueto the fact 1.- that the sausage casings used are Yexceedingly delicate and tender and often break during the linking operation. With the .presentmachina utilizing Aonly a single belt for the linking operation, :it will be at once apparent thatboth: runs C..and 0D of the belt V4operating :upon V-ar lled` L, of tea-ring or ripping the casing of the sausages.

Attention is also called to the fact that in many of the machines of the prior art, several links of a sausage are simultaneously made. The casings within which the sausage meat is packed are often of diierent diameters at different longitudinal points and there is thus a tendency for the casings to tear when several links are simultaneously formed. In the present machine, although two twists are madeV` in the casing simultaneously, to form one complete link, and

half of.v an Aad-Jacent link: at Aoneendof the first link and half of an adjacent/linkv at-'theother end` of the r'st link, only onev link :of vasausage isbBing rolledwby thenbeltat oneltime. If the portionr 'of theslled casing adjacent Aonel endwof the llink that islbeing formed lis .of greater diam-J eter thanthe portion of 4the casing adjacent the other endwof the .link that is being formed, the belt 43omay yield slightly adjacent one edge of the` same due to the Vresilient mounting .ofthe forward roller 26 :and asia result, there will-be no tendency .for the -sausage casing'to .break due to the discrepancy in .diameter of thacasingbetween the `two ends of the link. Attention should also be called to the fact that theresllient mounting of. forward roller` 26 `causes this rollerto at as .a belt tightener. 7

Due .to the inclination of run Dot the belt relative to run C, it will beseen that sausages having different `diameters can be rolled by the same machine. I Also .byfswinging the arms 37 to various positions,i the angle of4 the run D relative to run CI mayvbe changed to .permit either very'large sausages, such as'wieners and frankfurterswtolbe linked, ,or to permit sausages of. very small diam-v` eter` to `be linked. The lugs a act to prevent insertion. of the filled sausage casing S beyond certain points. As section B cani-be readily Aremoved frorn section A,.it will be seen that all parts of the machine can` be readily cleaned. To rei move the belt 43 for cleaning the saine, it is -only necessary to remove one of the arms37by1unloosening. the. nut 46,. whereupon-roller shaft f 36Y may bewithdrawn from thefsides frames 17 `and 18 to permit release of roller 35. AThe belt can then be readily removed fromsection B.

For `linking extremely. `large sausages such as frankfurters, it .is sometimes desirable tolspace the closest portions of thetwo runs C and'D of the belt 43 further apart. For this purposa-shaft'. openings 17C `and 18o are provided in the arms 17 .and 18 respectively above the lnormal 4shaft openings in these arms for the shaft 34, andit is `possible to `mount the shaft 34 in the openings 17o and 18o to raisethe roller `3?, above `its normali position and therebyspace the lowestpcrtion of the run'lD further from the run C. l Y

The machineis simple in constructionand in operation. t has been successfully demonstrated in actual practice. "It will, of course, he understood that various' changes :may bev made in the form, details, .arrangement and proportionsof the various. parts without departing from the scope of the .present invention.

` What -is claimed.is:- HLA .sausage linkingmachine comprising-.an endlessmoving belt mounted' to form a substantially `V-shaped sausage receiving mouth; the section of the belt forming one side of said` mouth moving in one direction and the section of the belt formingthe other side of said mouth moving in a generally opposite direction and runways adjacent the edges of one of said sections for supporting lled sausage casings while permitting the same to be slid into and out of said mouth in directions longitudinally of said belt sections.

2. A sausage 4linking machine comprising an endless moving belt mounted to form a substantially V-shaped sausage receiving mouth, the section of the belt forming one side of said mouth moving in one direction, and the section of the belt forming the other sideV of said mouth moving in a generally opposite direction, spaced parallel runways mounted adjacent the edges of oneof ZDl said sections and means for varying the spacing between said runways.

3. A sausage linking machine comprising a pair of cross connected side frame structures, a plurality of rollers mounted for rotation in said side frame structures and extending between the saine, one of said rollers being disposed at the forward ends of said side frames, a second of said rollers being disposed at the rear ends of said side frames, a third of said rollers being disposed forwardof and above said first two mentioned rollers and a fourth roller being disposed forwardly of said second roller above said first roller and below and rearwardly from said third roller, an endless flexible belt running over said rollers and forming a bight about said fourth roller to present a substantially V-shaped sausage receiving mouth and parallel sausage supporting runways extending rearwardly towards said fourth roller from said first roller adjacent the sides of that portion of the belt forming the lower part of said mouth.

4. The structure defined in claim 3, said runways including mountings movable laterally from the sides of said belt and means for securing the same in desired spaced relation from the sides of said belt to gauge the length of sausage links.

5. A sausage linking machine comprising a pair of side frames cross connected and spaced from each other, a front roller mounted at the forward ends of said side frames, a rear roller mounted at the rear ends of said side frames, an upper roller mounted above said front and rear rollers and forwardly from said rear roller, an intermediate roller disposed above said front roller, forwardly of said rear roller, and rearwardly from said upper roller, arms mounted for swinging movement on said side frames, means for releasably fixing said arms to said side frames so that the forward ends of said arms project above said upper roller and forwardly therefrom, a top roller mounted in the forward ends of said arms, all of said rollers extending transversely of said side frames and being mounted for rotation, means for driving one of said rollers, an endless flexible belt trained over all of said rollers and having a bight portion extending over said intermediate roller to form a substantially V-shaped sausage receiving mouth and runways extending rearwardly towards said intermediate roller from said forward roller adjacent the sides of the lower portion of said mouth and upon which lled sausage casings are adapted to be supported `for movement into said mouth.

6. The structure dened in claim 5, said front roller being yieldingly mounted to permit slight turning movement of the same relative to a plane extending truly transversely between said side frames and also to act as a belt tightener.

7. A sausage linking machine comprising a base section and a removable section normally attached thereto, driving mechanism mounted in said base section, a plurality of rollers rotatably mounted in said removable section, an endless flexible belt running over said rollers, said rollers being arranged to so direct said belt as to form a substantially V-shaped sausage receiving mouth, the section of said belt forming one side of said mouth moving in one direction and the section of the belt forming the other side of said mouth moving in the opposite direction, means for holding said removable section assembled on said base section and permitting ready removal of said removable section from said base section and a two part clutch between said driving mechanism and one of said rollers adapted to be engaged when said removable section is held assembled on said base section.

8. A sausage linking machine comprising a base having a lower substantially horizontal portion and an upwardly curved portion adjacent its rear end, a'stub shaft mounted for rotation at one side of said base, means carried by said base for driving said stub shaft, a half clutch member mounted on said stub shaft and projeoting toward the opposite side of said base from the side in which stub shaft is mounted, a frame structure adapted to be placed on said base to lie above said horizontal portion and chiefly forward of said upwardly curved portion cooperating releasable interlocking means on said base and frame structure to permit ready removal of said frame structure from said base, a plurality of rollers mounted for rotation in said frame structure, an endless flexible belt trained over said rollers, said rollers being arranged to cause said belt to form a substantially V-shaped sausage receiving mouth, one of said rollers including a roller shaft projecting from one side of said frame structure, a half clutch member mounted on said roller shaft and engaging with said first mentioned half clutch member when said frame structure is interlocked in position on said base.

9. A sausage linking machine comprising an endless moving belt mounted to form a substantially V-shape sausage receiving mouth, the section of the belt forming one side of said mouth moving in one direction and the section of the belt forming the other side of the mouth moving in a generally opposite direction and means adjacent the edges of one of said belt sections for slidably supporting a lled sausage casing while permitting the same to be moved into and out of said mouth in a direction longitudinally of said belt sections.

THOMAS E. KELLY. 

